Major synod fails to resolve gay issues

VATICAN CITY: Activists lashed out on Sunday at the Catholic Church’s failure at a major synod to open its doors to gay people, but praised Pope Francis for getting bishops to confront “taboos.”

After two weeks of fierce debate, the prelates approved a final document but sidelined three paragraphs touching on the hot-button issues of creating a more welcome stance towards gays and allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion.